Side-clamp hood fastener



' April 3, 1928.

N. W. CUMMINS SIDE CLAMP HOOD FASTENER Filed Oct. 9, 1925 Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

1\`I"OR1l/1.A1\'I'r VGUMMINS, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN.

SIDE-CLAMP HOOD FSTENER. v

Application filed October 9, 1925. Serial No. 61,510.v

In my Patent No. 1,592,257, issued July 13, 1926, there is disclosed a hood fastener located outside of a hood wall and adapted to fasten the hood wall in a closed and clamped position whereby the hood wall cannot become accidentally displacedy nor rattle during the operation of an automobile or similar vehicle. The. hood fastener includes a wall engaging 1o hook shapedemember. associated with a catch element, and this invention has special reference to the mountingof the buffer or wall clamping member.'

The object of this invention is to provide an outside pivoted` Vhood fastener with a yieldable buffer resiliently supported to be clamped against a hood wall, with the buer arranged so that its clamping action is incident to placing the fastener in engagement with the hood wall. In resiliently supportf ing the buffer itl may adjust itself, under compression, relative'to the hood` wall, and pressure may be brought to bear against the bufferto insure a positive and reliable holdfast device for the hood wall. Y

A. further object of this invention is to provide a durable and inexpensive hardwarev article and the construction entering into the article will be hereinafter described by aid of the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of the hood fastener;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, and

Fig. 3 is a plan of the fastener.

The hood fastener comprises a set of ears or lugs 1 connected by a pivot pin 2 and constituting a bearing which is suitably fastened to a fender apron 3 on a sill member or vehicle frame 4, said fender apron having a stop flange or abutment 5 for the lower edge of a hood wall 6 adapted to form part of a hood inclosing the engine or power plant of an automobile or similar vehicle.

Pivotally mounted on the pin 2 is the lower angular end 7 .of a clamping member 8 extending into a cylinder or barrel 9 provided with a catch element 10 having a hook 11 and a grip or handle 12. In the barrel or cylinder 9 is a coiled expansion spring 13, which encircles the member 8 and engages an abutment 14 mounted on the member 8 within the cylinder or barrel. The expansive force of the spring 1'3 is adapted to hold the cylinder 9 in a' retracted position relative buffer carried by av pivoted' to the clamping member 8 and with the hook 11 in engagement with a suitable keeperk 15 attached to'the hood wall 6.

Mounted on the angular end v7 of the clamping member 81 isV a resilient member or strip 16 having'its upper end embedded in vthe outer portionof a compressible buffer 17 adaptedV to forcibly engage the hood wall' 6 and hold the hood wall against the stop f flange 5, as best shown in Fig. 2. The buffer l17 maybe-conveniently made of rubber or g other yieldable materialfand -said-buffer'mayy be engaged by the lower portion'of the cylinder or barrel 9 so that said buffer, in its compressed state against the wall 6 will be positively held against said Wall by engagement of the hook 11 with the keeper 15. 1n otherrwords, the buffer 17 cannot back away from the hood wall even though it is resiliently supported and the resilient member or strip 16 will permit of the bulfer, under compression adjusting itself to the wall 6 rand the conlguration of the cylinder 9.

Lifting the handle 12 to disengage the hook 11 from the keeper 15 causes the cylinder 9 to shift relative to the buffer 17 and as the cylinder partly or entirely releases 5 the buffer 17, said bunter will momentarily reduce the pressure against the hood wall and by its expansive force tend to force the v entire fastener outwardly, whereby it shifts on its pivot after the hook 11 is free of the keeper 15.

The hood fastener affords a side clamping action eXteriOrly of the hood Wall and it is obviousl that the fastener may be swung downwardly to permit of the lower `edge of the hoodwall being readily shifted relative to the stop flange 5, as when opening the y hood. c n

' The stop flange 5 constitutes an abutment or means of limiting the closing movement of the hood wall and defining its position, but it is to be understood that this stop flange or member may have for its equivalent the walls 10u of a cowl and radiator adapted to be engaged by the end edges'of the hood wall. I do not care to limity my invention to the precise construction or location ofthe stop member because there are various types of such 105 members in use that will answer my purpose. This invention is particularly directed t0 the mounting of the buffer 17 and the manner in which it is braced against the hood wall bythe lower end of the cylinder 9.

Obviously such changes may be made in the construction of the hood fastener as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is l. In a hood fasten-er wherein a hood wall is adapted to be clamped down and against a stop member, and wherein a catch element is placed in hooked engagement with they i' ment and adapted to be compressed between the hoodwall and the lower'end of the catch element.

2. A hood fastener as called for in claimL l, wherein said buffer is mounted on the up* p per end of a resilient member carried by the lower Iend of said'clamping member.

3. In a hood fastener wherein yhood wall is adapted to be clamped down and against a stop member, a fasteningdevice pivotally Y supported adjacent said stop member and adapted for attachment to the hood wall, a resilient strip fixed to said fastening device and lyingl parallel to the axis of the fasten- Y ingdevice, and a buffer carried Vby said strip and adapted'to' be" compressed between the hood wall and fastening device.

4. In a hood fastener wherein a hood vwall is adapted to be clampedY down and against Y' *35a a stop member,i a fastening device pivotally supported adjacent 'said stop memberv and adaptedz forattachment tothe hood wall,

strip fixed Y`to said,vfasteningidevice,anda,

buffer carriedby said stripand adapted to be compressed between the hood wall and of fastening device.

In testimony whereof I affix signature'. l

NORMAN w. oUinwINs(v 

